Chapter 57: Who gave him a sour pickle!?!?

Phanes looks at the two in front of her. Since they have been together exploring the tunnels, she discovers that they have something with each other. She thinks Erebus also noticed since both have unconsciously walk further back to let these two have their moments.

She blushes when Kyrie takes Ian's hand without minding at all his surroundings. However, she is also a bit jealous that he was able to do it so unreservedly with someone he likes. Unlike her, she is too shy to be so bold with someone who caught her interest.

But, she is oblivious of what is going on inside of them. The struggles inside entangle them with messy feelings.

One of them is endlessly wanting to fill for a bottomless hole inside the man he loves - trying to fill what has been neglected. So that his lover would never feel that no one loves him. Instead, when the hardships of saving the world are too much to bear, he can turn back his head and see that there is someone who will always have his back, still loving him, always making sure that he is never alone.

The other is desperately seeking to be part of his lover's existence - wanting to be part of his love, hate, pleasure, and, most importantly, pain. So that one day, they could be one, understanding each other with one glance. He hates how shallow his knowledge is of the one he loves - struggling to speak up that he wants to share not only a lifetime but also their own being.

Because he feels that it is selfish that he is asking for everything, he struggles to say that he can no longer live outside of his lover's affection. After tasting such sweet affection from being starved to the bones, he knows that he is addicted. He wants to monopolize it. He wants it all.

Both of them want something, and both of them know what each other wants, but their hearts grip with fear. The what-ifs plague their mind. What if the reality is not what they hoped? How can they deal with unwanted consequences? So many questions and no one who could answer them.

Despite how much pressure they feel inside, their connected hands mean everything. The warm that they share, they want it to last.

"Maybe is not time yet," they both convinced themselves, ignoring their brewing and overflowing emotions.

"Maybe when I get enough courage," they convinced themselves.

Set within their hearts, they have decided. They will just wait for the right time.

Erebus walks calmly, watching the two in front of him being lovey dovey. He clicks his tongue, which completely shattered Phanes's hopes. Phanes mentally picks up the shatter pieces and affirms to herself that every creature changes.

Phanes turns back her head to almost crash into the couple in front of her, suddenly stopping in their tracks. She wants to ask for the reason, but the smell of blood gave it away.

They hear loud echoes of rushing footsteps like the rain hitting on the pavement in a rainstorm. Eric runs towards them like a flash. His toned bare upper body showing off more skin than before. The waistcoat no longer provides the little coverage it gave since it is flinging back as he ran. 

[What a useless piece of clothing!]

Kyrie senses Ian's hand tightening. He rolls his eyes to the side, and he can see Ian in a terrible mood. His mood is so terrible that his aura looks like screaming souls.

Behind Eric, three adventurers chase after the man. 

When Eric catches a glimpse of Kyrie and the group, his face showers of relief. He trips over from his own feet and rolls the rest of the way towards safety.

The three adventurers abruptly stop by force. Their boots slide over the ground to help them yield. Their swords, already drawn and hanging on their side, swing like a pendulum showing that these adventurers are ready and excited to clash swords with those that showed up in their path.

They smirk in arrogance. Their face holds a prideful expression like they have the means to turn the world upside down at their will. 

Unnatural. Their attitudes are unnatural like something is wrong with them. A small spider crawls out of one eyeball of an adventurer.

"Three men and two women…. Wait. Four men and a woman. That dude looks too pretty!"

Kyrie immediately takes out his sword from his palm.

[Woman? Hehe… You came at perfect timing!!! I have build up some stress lately.]

"No matter! We should be open minded and taste new things." One of them licks his lips.

Kyrie curves up with a mocking smile. Just when he is about to clash his sword with these men, Ian propels towards them, clashing his sword with another sword using the force of his momentum.

The man staggers back and lands on his bums. He gets stunned by the strength that he clashed into, like running into a solid concrete wall. Ian slightly turns his head at the two behind him.

Ian's eyes glint, reflecting danger on the surface of his pupils. Watching quietly on the sidelines, Kyrie puts back his sword, relaxing his eyes.

Eric whistles in amazement because he never thought that in their group there are skilled swordsmen.

"Yah!" Eric puts his arm over Kyrie, "Your friend is so strong. Are you as strong as him?"

Kyrie looks at Eric's hand hanging on the other side while feeling his skin prickle like something disgusting has touched him. It is not further from the truth since Eric's sweat drips like a bathroom leak after ran away from these three perverts.

Kyrie walks forward a step to get Eric's arm off him.

"Geez, man! Aren't you cold… You are most likely a virgin with that attitude!"

Kyrie feels a switch flip ON inside him.

"Aren't you one as well?!"

Eric flinches while his face turns to stone. His face distorts.

"How did you know?" asks Eric with surprise.

He does not want to walk around, showing that he is one. He thinks that he has played well the character of a playboy.

"That does not matter. What matters is that there is a difference between us."

"A difference? What difference?"

"Well… I chose to remain a virgin. It is you that should worry."

Ian walks towards Kyrie and Eric and looks at Kyrie with pursed lips.

"Don't be shameless, Kyrie!" Ian says after just hearing the last part.

"What? You don't want me?"

Ian gets quiet. His mouth opens and closes like he does not know what to say.

Eric, like suddenly catching the signs, gets even more speechless. 

"They were together? Holy! Oh no…. No, no, no, no…"

He gets roasted, and now, his inexperienced ass is getting himself in between a couple's argument about the frequency of their bedroom matters. 

If any… 

Ian puts his hand on his hip and is about to speak.

Eric interrupts, racing out his words, "I swear that I did not touch him with impure intentions! Friends, just being friendly."

He walks away robotically and obediently helps to tie the three adventurers up without anyone telling him.

*pfff

Kyrie lets out a chuckle.

"Isn't he cute getting all startled?"

"He is cute?" asks Ian.

[Just who gave a sour pickle to Ian? I shall fight that person! Why is he getting so aggressive?]